There’s hardly anything more welcoming than Middle Eastern hospitality when it comes to generosity of food. And no other time is this more evident when you’ve foolishly waited until 2pm to eat lunch and your stomach is growling and they bring you a plate of pickles and bread and two glasses of sweet cinnamon tea along with your menu. Then all hunger related anxiety vanishes instantly.
Complimentary pickles and bread
We nibble on the pickles and make little makeshift sandwiches while pondering the menu. I particularly like the chillis and olives and the tomato although the pink turnip pickles don’t really tickle my fancy.
Sparkling mineral water and ayran
The drinks available are self serve from the two large fridges inside. I choose an ayran, a salted yogurt drink that I’ve grown to like and is similar to a salty lassi and a sparkling mineral water.
Mixed plate (new) $16
Service here gets a bad rap but it is fast and the food is brought out with a smile although asking for recommendations is tricky as our waitress is reticent to give them. But when in doubt order the mixed plate as it has pretty much everything you could want to try on one plate. There is a creamy and smoky baba ganoush, a delicious hummus, fresh tabouleh, two orbs of their famous felafel, moist chicken shish tawook, lamb pieces, onion, kofta and kibbeh then you just dive right in. Peeling open the fresh Lebanese bread quarters we spread the bread with the dips and deposit the tabouleh, some meat and some pickles inside. There is also some fluffy toum (garlic sauce) and chilli sauce on the side. And does anyone see a face in the plate above or is that just me?
Felafel $8
In my haste to order, I didn’t realise that we got some felafel on the mixed plate so we inadvertently ordered another separate plate of them. The felafel here are well known for being crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside and indeed they have an earth shatteringly crunchy outer. They come with a small serve of tahini sauce.
Sambousek Cheese $8
The cheese pastries with a crispy hand made pastry outer are piping hot when served. They are filled with a thick cheese with Lebanese spices that is instantly comforting and appealing.
Kobbsa Lamb $12
I know, I know, this is food for two? I realise that we over ordered but they said that we could take away anything we couldn’t finish. The lamb shank comes on saffron rice and is slow cooked so the meat comes off the bone. It comes with a yogurt sauce although I love this with the garlicky toum to give it a burst of flavour. And I think a dinner like this could have kept us going until the morning quite easily!
So tell me Dear Reader, in your travels, which countries, towns or cities have you found particularly welcoming? And which place do you think does the best felafel?
Jasmin1
222 South Terrace, Bankstown NSW 2200
Open 7 days 8:30-10pm
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46 Comments | Add your own
My goodness, Lorraine, that is a lot of food. I must say that the people of Morocco were by far the friendliest I’ve ever met. I don’t know any Lebanese people. The food looks mouth watering.
so many tasty dishes!!!
Food looks amazing. I’d especially like to try the Sambousek.
Hong kong is welcoming, IMO. that’s because i can speak cantonese.
The mixed plate looks yum. I’ve never looked at Bankstown as a place to visit for food, but this looks good.
That’s quite a selection on that mixed plate – seems a lot to get through but at least you can take away what you don’t finish. I do love slow-cooked lamb shanks. I’ve found hosts in the country more welcoming than hosts in big cities xx
Can you reccommend a travel agent?
My wife and I are from California and would like to take a driving tour of New Zealand… hopefully to visit many of the spots you have reviewed
Any help would be appreciated.
Jim & Pat Wilkinson
This post is making me drool, despite the fact it is 8am AND we gorged on Lebanese food last night at ‘Emma’s on Liberty’ (she makes a mean felafel). I STILL want more!
I would say Greece. They really respect their food and want you to enjoy it. We found this little place on the island of Naxos that made traditional food and used fresh and organic ingredients from their farm. The food was to die for and they were so welcoming we went every day, sometimes twice a day!
I must make a trip to Bankstown and check this out. Yum! Thanks for the tip.
Yep – there most definitely is a big angry dude with horns on that plate (Oscar the Grouch style)!
Having only been to Los Angeles in the USA and new Zealand many years ago we had no problems with either country.
Apparently Australians have an accent ! Lol so when we spoke they new we wern’t from their country and were most helpful.
Oooh, I love Jasmin1, and I was thrilled when they opened in Leichhardt so that I can get a Lebanese fix on the spur of the moment. (I prefer the Punchbowl idiosyncratic decor, though.)
I’m not a diehard fan of felafel, so I couldn’t say who does the best, although Jasmin1′s are very good.
Lamb and toum are a match made in heaven! You were right to pair those
I’m interested to hear they served hummus with the Falefal rather than tahini sauce?
I read this over breakfast, bad idea! Now I’m craving felafel, baba ganoush and that lamb! he he!
I keep meaning to head out Bankstown way for some Lebanese food – so much cheaper than similar places closer in to the city!
I love variety and do try recipes from virtually around the world. However, when I look back on any week’s menu at my place, it is bound to have had a fair amount of Lebanese food: this seems to satisfy me from both the foodie and nutritionist point of view
! Both the mixed plate and the lamb here draw me and, as far as felafel goes, I like mine best methinks 
! Ha! As far as welcome is concerned, somehow I remember the uniformly kind and explanatory waiters in Italian trattoria when we first began taking our daughters to Europe. Quite frankly, Mother was oft told to ‘butt out’ of any food ordering and the girls were given loving explanations of what there was to eat – even being taken to look in the pots in the kitchen!! They could not wait for the next mealtime!
Hi Christie-Oh you might be right, I didn’t try it as I thought it was hummus!
Wow Lorraine, what a delicious feast!! That falafel looks amazing as do the little cheese pies. I’m terribly biased, but I would have to agree with Sara @ Zahara Desser that Greece is particularly welcoming. As for the best falafel – has to be on the rue de Roisers in Paris. This looks like a great, closer option though!!
My favourite thing about this place is that they can spell…But the food here is pretty spectacular.
I loved the food in Turkey, particularly in Kadikoy where the market food was so cheap and so fresh. Ciya Sofresi which is a small cantina nearby the markets is absolutely splendid.
Although you are right about the service. It operates on a ridiculous double standard, having eaten here with a large group of Lebanese friends and locals, I have seen the service warm and welcoming and kind, but returning on my own noticed a very big difference in our reception.
I am hoping the one in Leichardt is just as good.
In Peru we don’t have foreinger restaurants, ok, of coures we have Italian and Mexican, and one Indian, but that is it. I think that is why each time I went to NY (I don’t travel outside my country anymore) I liked to go to different restaurants, I like to try traditional food.
The Mixed Plate looks delicious and I would definitely give that one a try. The Ayran reminds me of a drink back in Canada called Yop (though Yop is a sweet yoghurt drink that you give to kids) and I think I would give it a go too.
Every day I read to my Hubby the different places you go to, today he said…. “Mmmmm that place sounds good!
Next time we’re in Sydney we’ll have to check it out.” He wants to try the Kobbsa Lamb more than the Mixed Plate, So good thing they let you take the leftovers. 
That mixed platter looks very appetising. I’m such a sucker for Middle Eastern food!
This food looks great, and I do see the face. The salted yoghurt drink sounds interesting.
LOVE the delicious write-up! My hubby and I haven’t taken any “big” trips since our daughter was born almost 2 years ago, and I enjoy coming here to see your adventures. Thanks for sharing.
I swear I don’t know where you put all this food.
I love Middle Eastern food and this place could make me happy any day of the week.
This is my absolute favorite food in the world. And what you said about Middle Eastern hospitality is spot on. I think my favorite falafel are from Egypt, where they are called ta’amiya. So herby. Delish.
Hahaha that is quite a lot of food for two but its oki I always over order too hehe. Prices are really affordable too hehe I don’t really eat much Middle Eastern food so I m not really an expert but it sure looks good to me hehe
I think out of all the places I have visited the most welcoming and friendly place would have to be Taiwan hehe people are just so happy and so friendly
I completely agree with your opinion on middle eastern hospitality. They also have a great variety of foods to try.
We are mostly made to feel welcome here in Italy, however, like most things in Italy, service is either great or dreadful. St Petersburg was one of the most unfriendly places I have been and the food was awful.
Totally love Lebanese food and visit different Lebanese restaurants in Punchbowl, Bankstown and Monterey. I find the Lebanese people so generous and giving, and they especially love sharing their wonderful cuisine with others. Jasmin on The Boulevarde, Punchbowl does the best freshest felafels. We went on a food tour and visited their kitchen and watched them making them. Overall Vietnam stays in my memory for food, culture and huge welcome to all visitors, no matter your nationality. Those amazing welcoming huge smiles!
I LOVE Middle Eastern food! I can thrive on the pickles alone, although the pink turnips aren’t for me either! All the plates here look delicious! We have some really awesome Middle Eastern restaurants here in Toronto, but my favourite is the takeaway section of a Persian supermarket called Super Chorak! However, one of the best falafels I’ve had was in Tel Aviv on Shenkin Road. And I love the hummus at Abu Shukri in the Arab Quarters of Old Jerusalem!
So yummy looking indeed! Especially the dips, yummo
That plate of pickles looks so great! I adore Middle Eastern food. We’ve been traveling for almost 9 months and we head back to Sydney next week. One of our first stops is going to be for some falafel and hummus. We might just have to try Jasmin1!
Considering how it’s been ages since I’ve had Middle Eastern food, reading this post suddenly made me ravenous for it!
I can’t pinpoint it, but some cities just have a “feel” and I fall in love with them. Austin, New York, Paris, Seattle (I was lucky enough to have a week of sun there though!)
I want those pickles so badly!
Love everything on those plates and want it now, even though I’ve just had dinner!
That mixed plate looks sensational!
The most welcoming place I’ve been is Vietnam. Everyone there was so friendly and generous.
I don’t think you can go past the Fijian hospitality.
Oh I can’t pick a favourite generous country … but Fiji, Thailand, Greece, and Turkey are among my favourites. Often it is people who have the least who are the most generous … and yes, I saw the face in the plate above! I was actually invited into a strangers’ home in Greece, and to a strangers’ wedding in Turkey!
God, I love middle eastern food… When people think of middle eastern cuisine they think of kebabs, pita and Hummus but this cuisine has so much more and everything is incredible!!!
I hope that you had a great time, Gal…
Waiting till 2pm for lunch was not all that bad ..RIGHT.
I love Jasmins…only ever been to the Punchbowl location tho…it’s a habit we have whenever we go that far west
The new mixed plate looks pretty great…was that some kind of spiced pita bread I saw?? might have to check it out 
Yummo.. My partner and I live in the Hills district of Sydney but travel to Punchbowl to eat at another branch of Jasmin. I agree, service is fast and friendly but lacking much actual communication. I am in love with their falafel, the kibbe and the kofta. Their dips are incredible! I want to try those Cheese pastry parcels next time we go.
I know what we are doing now this weekend!
I LOVE felafel – reading this over my raisin toast and coffee and now all I want is a felafel and houmus! I live 15 minutes from Bankstown so will be making a beeline for Jasmin 1 next weekend, thanks Lorraine
LOVE Middle Eastern food and hositality!
Always makes me feel PART of the family!
Totally agree re above comment of Flavours in the Sun,
In Egypt, they know how ta’amiya is done!
Mmm, the mixed plate reminds me of the mixed plate at el manara in lakemba. We always ordered extra felafel because we couldn’t get enough of them
I will have to do a search through your blog and see if there’s a recipe for felafel
I am so glad to see this on your website Lorraine, I live in Bankstown and go to Jasmin1 a lot because it is delicious food that is affordable for uni students such as myself. It also often means that you can have a small dinner after treating yourself to a huge delicious Lebanese lunch, which is even better value for money
I always order the mixed plate (except on Ash Wednesday when I got the vegetarian mixed plate – loved it too), and I love that they give you a basket of extra Lebanese bread for the table. I don’t know why the service gets a bad rap, they have always been really fast and happy when I go there, although I agree the communication is kept to a minimum – I don’t mind that so long as the waitstaff are nice, which they are.
I also recommend visiting the Lebanese sweets store nextdoor, called Sweet City, on your way home, they sell baklava and other delicious Lebanese treats that are cheap and are all made onsite!
the Kobbsa Lamb looks so like the Mutton Biryani we get here in Kolkata, India. Though the saffrony rice here is more yellow than orange-y yellow, thanks to the use of pure saffron here.
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